Dental attachment



l. STERN Nov. 23, 1926. 1,607,653

DENTAL ATTACHMENT Fi1 ed April 2. 1924 v ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 23, 1926.

UNITED STATES ISIDORE STERN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

DENTAL ATTACHMENT.

Application filed April 2,

This invention relates to dental bridgework of the removable type and more particularly to improvements in denture attachment anchor heads employed to hold a bridge in position between pier teeth.

An object of the invention is to produce an improved denture attachment or bridge anchoring head for use in connection with removable bridgework of such construction and having such improved mode of co-action with its receiving socket that adjustment thereof will seldom, if ever, be necessary; and my improved invention therefore relates to a novel type denture anchor head which possesses all the advantages of adjustable removable bridgework parts without requiring adjustment thereof by the dentist or by the wearer; and in this respect my invention makes a distinct advance in the art of removable bridgework for, while some inventors are now perfecting adjustable anchor heads to enable the bridge to be reset and tightened from time to time, I have perfected this non-adjustable head which always remains tight in its socket and will not require resetting and tightening thereof.

The accompanying drawing illustrates a preferred form of the invention but it is understood how certain changes in construction may be made without departing from the scope and principle of the invention.

Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of a bridge embodying the improved parts as carried between the pier teeth. 7

Figure 2 illustrates a cluster view showing the three main projections of the denture attachment before it is built into a bridge as an integral part thereof.

Figure 3 shows a front face view of the denture disclosing the pressure diaphragm held within the T-head denture attachment head.

Figure at illustrates an enlarged perspective view of the denture attachment.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings for a detailed description of the invention, there is shown pier teeth 5 between which a bridge B is supported by the improved denture attachments constituting this invention. The pier teeth 5 are usually prepared to receive metallic inlays 6 in which a socket 7 is encased; and it is understood by those conversant with the art how a dental bridge may be provided on one end with one type of anchoring connection and have on tie other end. thereof some other character 1924. Serial No. 733,586.

of connection, but in the assembly view I have shown my bridge fitted on both ends with my particular improvements.

Referring now to the remaining views of the drawing for a detailed description of the denture anchor head itself, there is illustrated a T-shaped part comprising a shank 9 joined integrally with a T-head 10. The T-head 10 may be provided with a thickened, swelled or enlarged central portion 11 made a part of the structure 91O for the purpose of strengthening it at the point of joinder between the two elements 9 and 10. The head 10 is curled around on each vertical parallel edge thereof to provide retaining ribs 12 which are spaced from the inner surface of the head 10 to give clearance therebetween in the form of confronting grooves 14 running parallel each to each and vertical along the inner portion of the T-head part 10.

A spring pressure plate or diaphragm 16 is confined in the T-head grooves 14 and this diaphragm element has its outer plane flexible surface projecting somewhat beyond the outer plane of the ribs 12 in order that the eifective thickness of the denture part be measured by the distance between the outer and backside plane of the part 10 and the outer and front surface of the disphragm 1G. The parallel edges of the diaphragm 16 are confined in the grooves 14 with clearance therebetween in order that the said diaphragm may flex or contract inwardly un der pressure of the socket 7 when the said T-head part is thrust downwardly into the pier teeth socket. The diaphragm 16 is preferably made of flexible spring-like denture gold which resists inward pressure but the clearance existing between the diaphragm edges of the walls of the confronting grooves 14 permits the diaphragm to move inwardly towards the T-head 10 when the attachment is thrust into the socket, and thus the denture tightly fits in the socket without lost motion. It is to be noted that the diaphragm is mounted freely within the grooved head and has no restrictions placed on its caiacity to flex inwardly and outwardly in a free manner and is therefore capable of flexing throughout its elastic limit to bear steadily against the inner socket wall.

The diaphragm plate 16 is made with an inwardly directed oortion 17 to either side thereof which. pro ects into the grooves 1d thereby holding the larger portion 16 of the diaph gin outwardly in extended: flexible position beyond the plane of the ribs 12 as hereinbel ore described. The lower portion of the diaphragm is preferably cut away as shown by the numeral 18 which leaves a part 19 of such character that it may have its lower edge bent inwardly towards the body for the purpose of conforming the bottom end of the said diaphragm to the general tapered contour of the lower end oi? the T-head 10, and this construction permits the denture attachment to be easilyinserted in the socket 7, for it is observed that inasmuch as the diaphragm 19 swells outwardly, the entire denture head will easily slip and slide into the socket 7 when once the part is started by inserting the small tapered end.

The diaphragm it; is held in the head against longitudinal slippage or motion by swedging or peaning over a portion of the metal as at 20 thereby n'ialting a lip, lug or projection as 20 partly closing the groove iii both at the top and bottom edges of the diaphragm so that one it is in position it cannot slip or move relatively to the 'i head 10, but it is understood that the lip does not bind and interfere with the diaphragms ability to flex and press against the socket wall.

This in'iproved denture znchor head has many advantages over adjustable anchor heads in that no adjustment device is necessary because the spring phragm 16 always expands outwardlyand continually presses agaimt the inner wall ol' the socket 7 thus preserving the spring pressed fitting relation between the socl-aet and denture; and it is unnecessary to periodically adjust this part by spreading op: erations such as resorted to in many lil'lerent types of presentday bridgework parts.

What I claim is:

l. A denture attachn'ient comprising a shank, a head made theleon, said head provided with confronting retaining grooves, a spring plate pressure diaphragm contmed in the retaining grooves, means at the diaphragm e 'es within the grooves to secure the diaphragm within the grooved head without limiting the outwardly bulging elastic limit of said diaphragm, and said plate adapted to undergo inwardly and outwardly tree and unrestrained flexing movement, and said diaphragm being disposed outwardly beyond the plane oi? the grooved head.

it denture attachment comprising a shank, a head made thereon, said head provided with confronting retaining grooves, a spring plate pressure diaphragm conlined in the retaining grooves, said plate adapted to undergo inwardly and outwardly tree and unrestrained flexing movement adapting the diaphragm to bulge throughout its-4 elastic limit, and anchorage means located in the grooves in alignment with the ends of the diaphragm plate confining the plate in the grooves to prevent it from moving relatively to the head.

$3.31 denture attachmentcomprising a shank, a head included thereon, a separate spring plate pressure member, said head having grooves in which the spring plate is contined and including means cooperating with opposite parallel etges 01 the plate to hold it in position on the head, and said plate formed to stand outwardly beyond the surface of the head.

A denture attachment comprising a shank, a head inchiided thereon, separate spring plate pressure member, said head having grooves in which the spring plate is confined, and including a lug portion struck-up from the head and extelitlingover and cooperating with opposite parallel edges of the plate to hold it in position on the head, and said plate formed to stand out wardly beyond the surface of the head.

A denture attachment con'ip'ising, a shanl-t including a T-head provided with eonirouting grooves, a spring plate mounted in the ,il'lOUVOS, and means in the grooves engaging the plate to anenor said plate in the head.

in testimony whereof t 

